Watches are no longer just time-pieces. They are cherished accessories that complement a person’s attire, taste, and personality. Most watches sold on the market aren’t overly expensive, generally found at a modest price point. But while these traditional watches are mainly used to keep time and to track motion, expensive watches are valued for their well-detailed craftsmanship, design, and aesthetic appeal outside of those primary functionalities.
Below is a compilation of the 20 of the most expensive watches in the world.
TOP 20 Most Expensive Watches
1. Vacheron Constantin Tour de I’lle
At number 20, we have the Vacheron Constantin tour de l’lle. Priced at $1.5 million, like many watches on this list only obtainable by a select class of clients. The Vacheron Constantin was released in 2005 and was made by Swiss Vacheron Constantin, with a mere 7 limited editions of the precious wrist accessory made for the sake of absolute exclusivity. The watch was once called “the most complicated watch in the world”, and though it is no longer known for that distinction, the price tag still reflects its unique aura.
2. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication
Sometimes the name says it all. As in the case of The Lange and Sohne Grand Complication, this watch gets its worth from its many complexities. Manufactured in 2013, it became the brand’s most expensive watch with a price of a whopping $2.5 million. The watch measured 50 mm in diameter and 20 mm in thickness, housed in a gold case with a total of 876 intricate moving parts. The watch also possesses a split-second chronograph, a moon phase perpetual calendar, as well as a grande and tiny sonnerie with a minute repeater.
3. Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4
The Frank Mueller Aeternitas Mega 4 watch holds the record for the world’s most complicated watch, with a staggering 1483 components involved in its immensely complex makeup. Priced at $2.7 million, this watch features an externally renewable calendar that need not be adjusted for at least the next millennia.
4. Patek Philippe 1928 Single Button Chronograph
Previously owned by world-renowned guitarist and musician Eric Clapton, this gorgeous timepiece, crafted in 1924, is made of 18-carat white gold and adorned with 28 different jewels.
The Patek Philippe 1928 Single Button Chronograph is valued at $ 3.6million. That is quite a price appreciation when adjusted for inflation over a life span or over 98 years!
5. Patek Philippe 5004T
The Patek Philippe 5004T, which broke out of the discontinued 5004 watch series, once started a war. A bidding war that is. Actually, this watch was specifically built and designed for an auction sale. Priced at $3.9million, the watch features a titanium body giving it a sporty look and contrast stitching. But do not be deceived into thinking this piece has a lower quality than its high-end predecessor. It is actually just as luxurious as its fellow Patek Philippe models.
6. Rolex Daytona Ref. 6293 Oyster Albino
We are sure you were waiting on Rolex to finally show up on this list, well here is the first Rolex entry. It got its name from the distinctive white hue on its chronograph subdials. Priced at $4 million, it is one of Rolex’s most prized and exclusive watches, seeing as only 4 of its kind were ever made. It was once owned by Eric Clapton. Like most Rolexes, the Daytona Ref 6293 Oyster Albino features a stainless steel case, a bracelet, and lastly a caliber 727.
7. Breguet Antique Number 2667
The Breguet Antique number 2667 is the first pocket watch to be featured on this list. Priced at $4.5 million, this pocket watch features two oscillating bodies mounted on an elegant dial. It is housed in an 18-carat yellow gold case, yielding its distinctive sophistication mixed with traditional design.
8. Louis Moinet Meteoris
The Louis Moinet Meteoris is Among the rarest watches in the world. Not only were there only four made, each one contains a real piece of moon rock. Priced at $4.6 million, this watch was built with the top echelon of mechanics with some seriously expensive materials utilized in its crafting. The Louis Moinet Meteoris is part of the Meteoris collection and they come in sets.
9. Hublot Big Bang Diamond
The Hublot Big Ban Diamond costs a whopping $5 million and features 1280 three-carat diamonds, all manually cut by a top-notch jeweler from New York City with about 10 years of experience. This watch was a 43rd birthday present given to Jay-Z by his wife Beyonce.
10. Patek Philippe Calibre 89
The Patek Philippe Calibre 89 is a commemorative pocket watch made in 1989 to mark the company’s 150th anniversary and is also the second pocket watch to make our top 20 list. Upon its initial creation, the company claimed that it was the most complicated pocket watch ever designed in the world. The watch features 33 complications, 24 hands, and weighs 1.1kg with 1728 total components comprising its complicated design. If you are into pocket watches and have $5.5 million in your budget for such a purchase, the Patek Philippe Calibre 89 is timelessly sophisticated and a prized possession for any watch aficionado.
11. Patek Philippe Ref 1527
While it may look like a rather ordinary timepiece, rest assured that this watch, priced at a staggering $5.7 million, contains more than 20 separate precious stones and is created from 20 karats of rose gold. It would be an understatement to say that this watch is rare, it is actually one of a kind. It did, however, serve as an inspiration for other Patek watches that were designed after its initial crafting way back in 1943.
12. Patek Philippe Ref 1518 In Stainless Steel
The Patek Philippe Ref 1518 is encased in high-grade stainless steel and was auctioned off for a massive $11 million. Part of just 4 limited edition series by Patek Philippe it is the only Patek Philippe watch crafted from rose or yellow gold with its perpetual calendar chronograph made out of steel.
13. Paul Neenan Rolex Daytona
This watch is the rarest of the rare. It’s no wonder it carries a surreal price tag of $17.6 million. Paul Newman’s wife gifted him this watch as a tribute to his passions which includes, horology and motorsport. The watch features an exotic dial in black and cream coloring, though it is rumored that such a color scheme was featured on just out of 20 Daytonas, mostly because the initial sales started out slow. But shortly after Paul Newman was seen wearing it while chasing after his racing career, there was a hike in price and the watch was finally sold at auction for a large amount of money.
14. Jacob and Co. Billionaire Watch
The Jacob and Co. Billionaire watch costs a whopping $18 million. This watch is made from 260-carat emerald-cut diamonds and features a stylish skeleton face with a mesmerizing representation of the courageous Jacob and Co. spirit. This watch on your wrist will certainly get people talking. After all, it has a seriously impressive moniker to live up to.
15. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
Among all Patek Philippe watches, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication is the most expensive on this list. It was originally made for a wealthy American banker of the same name and featured a perpetual calendar, sunrise and sunset times, a minute repeater with Westminster chimes, 24 complications, and a celestial chart. This stunning and intricate wonder of mechanics carries a hefty price tag of $24 million.
16. Chopard 201-Carat Watch
If you consider the name of the Chopard 201-Carat watch, you might quickly realize why this watch is worth an insane $25 million. It features a cluster of colorful diamonds, or more specifically a 12-carat blue diamond, a 15-carat pink diamond, an 11-carat white diamond, and a host of yellow and white diamonds totaling a stunning 163-carats.
17. Jaeger-Lecoultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette
You can have the Jaeger-Lecoultre Joallerie 101 Manchette if you have $26 million to spare and if Queen Elizabeth II chooses to part with it, of course. After all, it was given to her as a gift in celebration of her 60th anniversary on the throne of Great Britain. The watch is customizable to fit as many as 576 diamonds and a sapphire dial, with a silver-colored dial face and a winding crown. The chances of getting your hands on this one are probably less than zero, even if you had the money to pony up for it. The Queen will likely pass it on as a family heirloom.
18. Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette
Construction began in 1782 and took about 40 years to complete the final Breguet Grande Complication Marie Antoinette watch. Encased in gold, this outstanding pocket watch is allegedly said to have been commissioned by an ex-lover of Marie Antoinette, the French queen famous for her tone-deaf “sympathy” towards her people and her subsequent beheading.
This beautiful, 30 million dollar timepiece contains every function that was available at the time of its completion which was around the year 1827. Unfortunately, Marie Antoinette met her untimely demise before she could ever receive this accessory, but the watch remains a magnificent example of human commitment and ingenuity.
19. Graff Diamonds’ The Fascination
The second-most-expensive watch in the world, with a staggering price tag of $40 million is the Graff Diamonds’ The Fascination. The timepiece features 152.96 carats of white diamonds, with a detachable 38.12-carat pear-shaped diamond ring which can be found at the center of the watch. Some have dubbed it the “most expensive watch ever.” though Graff would find a way to top that achievement through another model. That brings us to number 1…
20. Graff Diamonds’ Hallucination
The number one entry on this list of most expensive watches ever has a clear winner and that is the Hallucination by Graff Diamonds. Opulence and luxury are at their peak here. Priced at $55 million, the watch features a platinum bracelet and 110 carats of rare colored diamonds of varying cuts and finishes. The Hallucination by Graff Diamonds is a top-notch timepiece that upsets the boundaries of Horlogerie to their most extreme, topping out at the very top of the top-most echelon of watches crafted in the recorded history of mankind.
Most Expensive Watches you can’t afford The Wind Up
And there it is, the world’s 20 most expensive watches! These pieces show the amazing heights reached by those seeking to achieve a confluence of top-of-the-line mechanics (for its time), aesthetics, and affluence exhibited in their masterful designs. We hope you had as much fun reading this list as we did putting it together. Now it’s your turn! Tell us your favorite watch in the comments below.
Since you have finished reading our amazing post of the TOP 20 Most Expensive Watches you can’t afford, we suggest to you to check this amazing post of the TOP 10 Best Rolex Watches For Men you can’t afford
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are hublot watches so expensive?
Hublot watches are expensive due to their use of high-end materials, such as gold, titanium, and ceramic, and their complex manufacturing processes. They often feature unique designs and complications and are produced in limited quantities, which adds to their exclusivity and price. Additionally, the brand has a reputation for luxury and craftsmanship, which further contributes to its high price point.
Why are gevril watches so expensive?
Gevril watches are expensive due to their long history and reputation for quality and craftsmanship. The company has been producing watches for over 250 years, and its timepieces are known for their precision and attention to detail. Gevril watches are also made in limited quantities, using high-end materials and Swiss-made movements, which adds to their exclusivity and price.
Why are Richard mille watches so expensive?
Richard Mille watches are expensive due to the brand’s philosophy of pushing the boundaries of traditional watchmaking. The company is known for its innovative designs, using cutting-edge materials and technologies to create high-performance and luxurious timepieces. Richard Mille watches are also produced in limited quantities, using meticulous and time-consuming manufacturing processes, which adds to their exclusivity and price.
Hello, my name is Idammah, and I am the founder of Wolfionaire.com, a personal development, and finance blog focused on motivation, success, and wealth. I am obsessed with studying the world's wealthiest individuals and learning about their path to success. I believe anyone can achieve their financial goals with the right mindset and strategies, and I hope to inspire and empower my readers to pursue their own path to success.
